Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme

Introduction

Coconut cultivation subjected to risks from climatic changes, natural disasters, pests, diseases etc. and at times, entire coconut cultivation of a region gets wiped out due to natural calamity or onset of pest attack. Coconut is a perennial crop and losses suffered by farmers due to damage of this crop, are material and needs to be addressed, At present there is no insurance scheme under which coconut cultivation may be covered, since National Agricultural Scheme (NAIS) for insurance of cereals, millets, pulses, oil seeds, and Horticultural crops.
Coconut palms are perennial crops. But palm trees are characterized by periodic system of crops setting and outcomes and hence resemble seasonal annual crops and should accordingly, eligible for insurance cover. Since coconut is cultivated under rain-fed management and susceptible to biotic and a-biotic stresses, it is necessary to minimize risk faced by coconut farmers, predominantly small and marginal, by covering coconut palms with an insurance scheme.

Objectives

• Assists coconut growers in insuring coconut palms, against natural and other perils.
• Provide timely relief to farmers, who suffer income loss due to sudden death of palms.
• Minimise risks and encourage replanting and rejuvenation to make coconut farming remunerative.

Applicability

The insurance scheme for insuring coconut cultivation is to be implemented on pilot basis at Puri initially and will be applicable to all healthy nut bearing coconut palms as mono or inter cropped, on bunds farms or homestead and to all verities of coconut, including Tall, Dwarf, and Hybrids. Since Dwarf and Hybrids begins to yield fruit from 4th year of planting, this variety of coconut palms in age range of 4-60 year. Unhealthy and senile palms will be excluded from coverage. Government of Odisha have signed the MoU with Agriculture Insurance Company of India and CDB for implementation of Coconut Insurance Scheme at Puri on pilot basis.